--> Structural Style and Kinematics Above Salt in Kuqa Basin, Southern Tianshan, China, Wang, Xin; Xie, Huiwen; Vendeville, Bruno, #90100 (2009)

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Structural Style and Kinematics Above Salt in Kuqa Basin, Southern Tianshan, China

Wang, Xin1
 Xie, Huiwen2
 Vendeville, Bruno3

1Geosciences, Zhejian University, Hangzhou, China.
2
Tarim Oilfield Company,
Kuler, China.
3
University de Lille1, Villeneuve d’Ascq,
France.


Key words: Kuqa basin, Tianshan, Salt Structure, Kinematics

Field, seismic, and experimental data suggest that folds and thrusts of Kuqa basin have formed by thin-skinned shortening above decollement layers made of evaporitic rocks in Tertiary. The Deformation style and kinematics have shown varying in the west and east part of Kuqa basin. In the east part of Kuqa basin, the south-vergent deformation is characterized by a series of forward-breaking thrust faults, fault-related folds and detachment folds. Near the high Tianshan mountain front Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata are involved in deformation that began at ~25-26Ma as documented by growth strata north of Kuqa. Toward the southward limit of the basin, Miocene through Holocene strata are folded in the Quilitage and Yaken anticlines which began growing above a thrust system that propagated at ~5.5Ma.

The dominant structure of the west part of Kuqa basin is massive salt structures. We present evidence that the diapirs, which grew in the entire area of the west part of Kuqa basin during Oligocene to Pliocene, are deformed by late Pliocene to nowadays regional compression. Compression created thrust faults that cut the north margin and crest of the diapirs. The salt reactively flowed along the thrust faults and pierced ground surface, forming salt walls and salt sheets over the diapers. The younger salt anticline and salt pillow was formed at the southern side of the preexistent diapirs. In the west part of Kuqa basin the deformation domain above salt involved the foreland and hinterland sides at an early stage. Further shortening is accommodated by thrusts and folds throughout the area.

Numerous gas fields have been discovered in Kuqa basin. The most hydrocarbon potential, with relatively deep anticlines and thrust sheets beneath the salt wall (diapir) are the primary targets for future exploration. Different models of the deeper folds would influence any petroleum prospects in Kuqa basin.

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90100©2009 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition 15-18 November 2009, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil